Atalanta 0 – 0 Arsenal – Match report

David Raya was our hero again this season as we returned from Italy with a point after a goalless draw with Atalanta.

It wasn’t exactly the start to our Champions League campaign that we wanted, but we had our goalkeeper to thank for it, as he pulled off a brilliant save in the 51st minute to keep us from going behind. He denied Mateo Retegui’s first attempt before making an incredible reaction save to deny the striker again as he looked set to convert the rebound.

Chances were scarce for either side throughout and although Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli both came close to scoring for us, no one was able to break the deadlock.

Stuttering start

The first Champions League match in three years saw a full house at the Gewiss Stadium, but the first half did not quite do justice to the spectacle that was taking place there.

We had some good chances in the first 20 minutes as we tried to silence the home fans, particularly when we were awarded a free kick 20 yards from goal. Saka fired a low shot into the bottom corner but Marco Carnesecchi made a good save to prevent Thomas Partey from slotting home the rebound.

In the 17th minute, Martinelli missed a half-chance from inside the box well over the bar, but from that point on, the half was riddled with errors as both teams struggled to keep possession, resulting in a dearth of chances.

A shot from Charles de Ketelaere that flew over the post and crossbar just before half-time was the only other notable incident before Clement Turpin blew the whistle for half-time.

Raya to the rescue

It took two minutes for the second half to get going, though, and not in the way we would have liked, as Ederson slipped past Partey in the box and the Ghana captain backheeled him. Turpin pointed to the penalty spot and after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was upheld.

Mateo Retegui, who had scored four goals in his first four Serie A games, stepped up confidently but when Raya parried his low shot the ball spun back towards the striker. It looked like the net was going to bulge but, much like his save against Aston Villa last month, our number one leapt up and cleared the ball off the goal line with a reflex save to keep the draw.

Despite not getting that warning, we continued to struggle to break through and the hosts continued to create chances. Juan Cuadrado’s 25-yard shot failed to trouble Raya as it whizzed over the bar midway through the second half and in the 73rd minute the Colombian attempted a second effort which went just wide.

But seconds later we finally had another chance to score when the fresh Raheem Sterling slotted the ball through to Martinelli, who managed to escape behind the defence but lost his balance while trying to get around Carmesecchi and shot well over the goal.

Things didn’t go any better for either side, as the game again fizzled out and both sides began the new league phase of the competition with one point each.

What happens next?

On Sunday we head to Manchester City for the biggest game of the season so far when we take on the reigning champions at the Etihad Stadium. Then it’s on to the Carabao Cup when Bolton Wanderers visit the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, followed by Leicester City on Saturday 28th September.